Culturally specific Black Health and Wellness Immunization Clinics and other broader health events offer a welcoming and respectful environment where individuals of African descent can receive information and vaccinations. These clinics operate on a drop-in basis, with no appointments necessary. While they are designed to reflect the cultural needs of Black communities, they are open to everyone.

HAAC identified that there needed to be a culturally specific focus to start to build trust between African Nova Scotian and Black/African Ancestry communities and the NS Health system. This effort coincided with the leading community work put in by members of the Preston Township community to inform and protect themselves in the early stages of the pandemic.

HAAC and ABSW then advocated for and partnered with health system leaders to provide COVID-19 clinics for African Nova Scotian and Black/African Ancestry communities across the province. The HAAC/ABSW partnership understood what would make people feel better about attending a clinic. It involved being supported by Black health professionals who reflected the people served and ensuring that the clinics were community-led.

Culturally specific work informing Nova Scotia Health Public Health’s (NSH PH) response to the COVID-19 pandemic began with an HAAC town hall about COVID-19 on March 20, 2020. The town hall featured Black doctors and health professionals explaining coronavirus in a culturally specific context. Several other town halls followed, even before the pandemic was officially declared.

Over the past five years, this partnership ensured that Black communities have a voice in decision-making and access to vital resources locally. The collaboration has evolved beyond the immediate pandemic response into a long-term initiative focused on enhancing access to culturally competent health care and improving the quality of services for Black and African Nova Scotian communities. A key component of this work is emphasizing the role of vaccination as part of a healthy lifestyle.